Spring.



F. E. WILCOX.

SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22, 1913.

Putentd Dec. 21, 1915.

FRANK E. W'ILCOX, 0F MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 22, 1913. Serial No. 786,112.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, FRANK E. WILCOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mechanicsburg, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Springs, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of the invention is the provision of spring means especially adapted for use in supporting the bodies of automobi-les and other vehicles whereby the weight of the body initially will be supported by a' spring, preferably a flexible leaf or leaves of low capacity, insuring an easy motion at relativelydow speeds, and when the body moves upwardly and downwardly through a greater distance, which action accompanies relatively high speeds or the passage over rough roads or obstructions, the additional kinetic energyhvill be transmitted to a spring or springs of much \higher capacity. However, parts of the entire spring means may be l sed to support a body directly under all con itions of service, and when the above recited mode of operation is not the essential end to be attained.

The invention consists in certain novelties of construction and combinations of parts herein set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawing illustrates two examples only of the embodiment of tli" invention constructed according to the besi modes of procedure I have so far devised for attaining the main purpose, but, as before stated, parts of the spring means shown may be used for the entire support of the body.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of spring means comprising two main semi-elliptical springs of relatively high capacity and a supplemental spring of relatively low capacity. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of spring means comprising a semi-elliptical spring and a supplemental leaf spring of less capacity than the semi-elliptical spring, combined with part of the frame of an automobile.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of one of the levers to which the seferal springs are pivoted.

Referring to Fig. 1, the letters A and B designate the two semi-elliptical springs of relatively high capacity, the spring B in this instance being shorter than the spring A, as shown; C, the supplemental spring of relatively low capacity, in this instance 10- cated below the spring B and of less normal sition.

curvature; and D D are the levers to which the ends of the springs are pivoted.- v

Patented Decizl,1915...

As shown by Fig. 3, each lever is in one piece preferably forged to shape. It consists of two perforated side bars united by intermediate connecting cross pieces The springs A and B'have eyes at the ends and are pivoted to the levers by bolts 'F' with nuts G on the ends. A link-His piv-- oted to the end of each lever by bolts I. I

and the supplemental spring C with eyes is pivoted to the links by bolts J J with nutsupon the ends of the bolts. The links allow the ends of the spring C to flex so that the surface of the spring can be brought, into frictional contact with the surface 'of'the I spring B when suflicient power is applied to spring A. a

The combination in Fig. 2 differs from that in Fig. 1 in substituting for the spring A the side piece K of the under frame of an automobile. A bracket L is secured to the side piece K. to which one end of one lever is pivoted, the other lever being pivoted to the end M of the side piece,. as shown. The levers, lower main spring, supplemental spring links and bolts are designated by the same letters as used in Fig. 1. In both examples P'is the power arm and l/V the weight arm of the lever, and O the fulcrum which is located at the ends of spring 13, and as the spring can bend slightly the fulcrum is be of the third class. However, the mode of operation would be substantially the same in both cases, as is obvious, and the spring means in practice may be used in either po- As before stated, partsof the device, for example. the levers-and the supplemental spring CI may be used in connection with substitutes for the spring A and side piece K, in which case"'tl'i'e spring C may be of increased capacity or comprised of several leaves.

The mode of operation is as follows: When the vehicle is moving at a relatively slow speed the spring C carries the body Fate-its ends to the free end of the spring, a:

yieldingly, but when it is moving at a. high speed or is passing over a rough road, or when obstructions are encountered, the levers turn about their fulcrums until the spring C .isflexed and brought into frictional contact with the spring B, then the additional kinetic energy is transmitted to the springs A. and B in the first example and 'to the spring B in the second example.

What I claim is: 1. The combination of a curved leaf spring, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the freeend of the spring, a supplemental leiispifing located at the convex surface of saidcurved leaf spring and its free end pivoted to one end of the lever, and means pivot'cdito the opposite end of the lever adapted totransmit to said .lever end the Weight of a vehicle body.

2. The combination of a curved leaf spring,-a lever with a link pivoted intermedisiipplemental leaf spring located at the convex surface of said curved leaf spring and its free end pivoted to the link at one end of the lever, and means pivoted to the opposite end of thelever and adapted to cooperate with said lever in flexing the supplemental leaf spring.

3. The combination of 'e; semi-elliptic spring, leverskpivoted intermediate their ends to opposite ends of the semi-elliptic spring, a supplemental spring located at the convex surface of the semire'lliptic. spring and pivoted to' adjacent ends .of. the levers, and means located at the cogicave -siiifface of said semi-elliptic spring and ofl'greater length than said spring pivoted to the opposite ends of the levers.

- 4. The combination of a semi-elliptic spring; levers, each provided with a link, pivoted intermediate their ends to the ends of the semi-elliptic'spring; a leaf spring located at the convex surface of the semi-elliptic spring and its opposite ends pivoted to the links-at the ends of the levers; and means opposite the concave surface of .the semielliptic spring pivoted to the opposite ends spring, a, supplemental leaf spring located at of the levers.

. 5. The combination of a semi-elliptic spring, levers with-links pivoted intermediate-their ends to the ends'of the semi-elliptic the-convex surface of the semi-ellipticspring theie ers, and a semi-elliptic spring pivoted and, p oted to said links at adjacent ends of at it s opposite ends to the opposite ends of I the levers. v

.6. The combination of a semi-elliptic spring, levers pivoted intermediate their ends to the ends of the semi-elliptic spring,

a supplemental leaf spring located at the convex surface of the semi-elliptic spring and pivoted to adjacent ends of the levers,

' and a semi-elliptic spring pivoted at itsopposite ends to the opposite ends of the levers.

7. The combination of a semi-elliptic spring, levers pivoted intermediate their ends to the ends of the semi-elliptic spring and straddling the ends of the same, a supplemental leaf spring pivoted to the adjacent ends of theAlevers, and a semi-elliptic spring pivoted at its opposite ends to the opmediate its ends to the end of the middle or intermediate spring.

9. The combination of a supplemental leaf spring, a main leaf spring of greater capacity than the supplemental spring, two levers each having three pivotal points, the extreme end of each lever being in pivotal connection with the supplemental spring, and the main leaf spring pivoted to each lever indie mediate the ends of each lever; the opposite ends of the levers being adapted to take the load and bend the ends of the supplemental leaf spring into contact with the main leaf spring.

'10. The combination of a main leaf spring,

a lever pivoted intermediate its ends tothe end of .the leaf spring. a supplemental leaf spring'of less capacity than the main leaf spring located at the back of the said springand pivoted to one end of the lever, and a' member supporting part of the load pivoted to the other end of the lever, whereby the supplemental spring can be flexed into contact with the said main spring under sive loads.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. WILGOX.

Witnesses: I I

B. V. ZIEGLER, I J E. HOERNRR.

exces- 

